Hyde's return likely to shake up OSU's rotation

Sep. 19, 2013

Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde, left, is tackled by Michigan defensive tackle Jibreel Black during a Nov. 24, 2012, Big Ten game. After a three-game suspension, Hyde returns to No. 4 Ohio State's backfield, creating a glut of backs all seeking carries for the Buckeyes when they play Florida A&M on Saturday. / Mark Duncan/AP

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Rusty Miller

Associated Press

Ohio State's Carlos Hyde runs during a Nov. 24, 2012, Big Ten game against Michigan. After a three-game suspension, Hyde returns to No. 4 Ohio State's backfield, creating a glut of backs all seeking carries for the Buckeyes when they play Florida A&M on Saturday. / Greg Bartram/USA TODAY

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COLUMBUS — Urban Meyer couldn’t be happier Carlos Hyde is returning to the field for No. 4 Ohio State — although it might create some minor headaches when it comes to playing time.

Hyde missed the first three games when he was suspended after an alleged assault against a female at a Columbus bar this summer that did not lead to charges.

“I’ve got to make this clear: He is welcome back,” Meyer said. “It’s been a terrible three weeks for him. He’s handled his business the right way. If he didn’t handle his business the right way, he wouldn’t be playing in this game.

“He’s been very unselfish.”

Jordan Hall has been good at tailback in place of Hyde, the 2012 leading scorer and second-leading rusher for the Buckeyes. Meyer now will have to wedge in another quality back, splitting the workload and tailoring plays for the senior.

“There’s only one football,” Hall said after Wednesday’s practice, acknowledging Hyde will get his share.

He was unsure what the pecking order might be at the position.

“We’re just rotating like we usually do,” Hall said. “I guess we’ll find out on Saturday.”

Although Ohio State is an overwhelming favorite against Football Championship Subdivision Florida A&M on Saturday, at least fans ought be entertained by watching the rotation of running backs and quarterbacks for the Buckeyes.

Hyde’s not the only new guy thrown into the mix.

Braxton Miller is expected to return from missing most of the past two games with a sprained knee ligament. He will vie with stellar fill-in Kenny Guiton for snaps.

Miller was not full speed but did practice Wednesday.

“I think he’ll be ready in a still somewhat limited role,” Meyer said. “That’s kind of what I’m counting on right now. We’ll see. Tomorrow’s obviously another big day.”

It’s an abundance of riches. Most teams would love to have one dependable quarterback or running back. Ohio State is blessed to have Miller and Guiton, then will throw Hyde into the mix with Hall, Rod Smith and Dontre Wilson at tailback.

The Buckeyes’ coaching staff constantly harps on backups and other subs being mentally prepared to play. This will be a major test of that sermon.

Defensive line coach Mike Vrabel was a longtime NFL player before he returned to his alma mater as an assistant three years ago. He recently listened to a radio interview with Oakland Raiders’ running back Rashad Jennings, a former backup at Jacksonville behind Maurice Jones-Drew. It ended up being a story Vrabel related to the Ohio State coaches and players.

“One night late they were doing an interview with (Jennings),” Vrabel said. “His approach was that there are no backups, that the backups were the people who weren’t in the league or weren’t on the team. He approached every game as a starter. That was what enabled him, when Maurice Jones-Drew went down, to come in and be really productive.”

Hyde, a bulldozer with breakaway speed at 6-foot and 235 pounds, rushed for 970 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2012 — coming close to becoming the first running back in Meyer’s 11 years as a head coach to crack the 1,000-yard mark.

Hall figured to be the starter in 2012, but he cut his foot in a freak accident, then returned in midseason and injured a knee. He ended up playing in seven games.

So when Hyde was banished to the sideline, Hall — who had been granted a redshirt year for his injuries — took over. He has 402 yards on 64 carries and two touchdowns, piling up career bests of 168 yards on 30 carries and three touchdowns in a 52-34 win Saturday at Cal.

“He’s made an unbelievable change as a person,” assistant Stan Drayton said of Hall. “All the adversities that he had to face with the injuries and some of the things that he quite honestly put on himself, he’s really grown.

“Now it’s transferring into his football.”

Smith, suspended for the opener for a violation of team rules, has had three carries each of the past two weeks. Wilson, a freshman speed merchant, rushed for 59 yards on five carries at Cal.

One possible way to share the workload is to add Hall as an H-back, both a hybrid slot receiver and a ball carrier, similar to how Meyer used Percy Harvin when he was at Florida.

“I don’t know. I’ve been thinking about that,” Meyer said of moving Hall to the H-back spot.

Meyer is uncertain of who’ll get how many carries Saturday, but he said he’d try to be fair. Hyde will not be the starter, that’s for certain.

“He’s not on top of the list. That’s not fair to the other guys. But he’ll play,” Meyer said. “He’s done everything and above that I and coach Drayton have asked him to do. And it wasn’t easy. A lot of internal things that we haven’t made (public), because it’s no one’s business what goes on behind the scenes. But he’s gone above and beyond what we’ve asked him to do.”